I was fired from a retail job for not lying and it led to my £1.5 billion skincare line
WHEN Paula Begoun was fired from her retail job, she had no idea it would be the most profitable moment of her life.
It inspired the 71-year-old to launch her eponymous brand – Paula’s Choice – which is now worth an estimated £1.5 BILLION.
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Paula was fired from her cosmetic agency in 1975 for “telling customers the truth” about what certain products could and could not do for the skin.
“I got caught telling a client that astringents can’t close pores,” she said news.com.au.
“I wasn’t willing to twist the truth to sell something – a principle I carried with me as I built Paula’s Choice.”
Paula’s Choice is a no-BS skincare brand that uses science-backed ingredients to ensure your skin concerns are addressed at the source.
And Paula’s principles have kept the brand profitable, with her selling the company to Unilever in a deal rumored to be worth almost $2 billion by 2021.
“My skin problems started very young,” she explained.
“Eczema flared up in childhood, then puberty brought the unwanted addition of acne.
“It was a nightmare.
“Frustrated, I delved into scientific research into skin and ingredients.
“Ultimately, my constant discomfort and disappointment fueled my passion to write books about what I learned, which ultimately led me to create my Paula’s Choice products.”
Paula was able to launch her brand after gaining fame as The Cosmetic Cop.
In 1985, she self-published her first best-selling book, Blue eye shadow should be illegal.
She next appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where she earned the lasting nickname.
“I didn’t want to write any more books about skin care and makeup, and I knew I could use everything I learned to create really effective formulas that lived up to their claims,” she said.
Paula’s Choice bestsellers
- Skin Perfecting Liquid Exfoliant with 2% BHA – £35
- 10% Azelaic Acid Booster – £41
- Clinical Treatment with 1% Retinol – £61
- Clinical Pro Retinaldehyde Dual-Retinoid Treatment – £63
- Clear Cleanser – £22
- Resist Anti-Aging Moisturizer SPF 50 – £39
- Skin Balancing Toner – £27
“I didn’t want other women to go through the same frustrations I did in my skincare journey.
“I had to do something more about it.
“So I did that by creating Paula’s Choice Skincare.”
Paula’s Choice’s best-selling product is the £35 SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, which fights pimples and blackheads.
It’s also famous for its £61 Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment, which improves skin texture while softening fine lines and wrinkles.
